Corzine’s 100th

Today marks Gov. Jon Corzine’s 100th day in office, traditionally the first time media takes a measurement. There hasn’t been much dramatic to report, unlike when Gov. Dick Codey took over from Gov. Jim McGreevey. What stands out for me was when news broke that Corzine paid $5,000 to bail out lobbyist Karen Golding, accused of breaking into the car of Assemblyman Joe Cryan who Corzine just named to head the state Democratic Party. The judgment was so bad it was like one of those things you couldn’t make up because no one would believe it. What do you remember about his first 100?

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About Bob Ingle

Bob Ingle is Senior Political Columnist for Gannett New Jersey newspapers and co-author of The New York Times' Best Seller, "The Soprano State: New Jersey's Culture of Corruption" and "Chris Christie: The Inside Story Of His Rise To Power". He has won numerous journalism awards and is often a news analyst on radio and television. Twitter @ bobingle99.

7 Responses to Corzine’s 100th

MOST MEMORABLE CORZINE MOMENT? For me it was when Jonny kissed-up to Sen Wayne Bryant (D-Camden) couple weeks ago.

Bryant is under federal investigation and as overseer of the taxpayers piggy bank—the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee—Bryant’s sticky fingers landing on our tax dollars goes non-stop. I mean, this guy lays awake at night planning creative ways to waste our tax dollars. Bryant has helped himself, countless members of his family, and various so-called “agencies, to get millions upon millions that disappear down the Camden pesthole, never to be seen again.

Now, the federal probe has prompted calls for Bryant to resign his powerful chairmanship. Not by Jon Boy, I hasten to add, who inexplicably said that ousting Bryant was “premature,” and that “accusations” are not proof of wrongdoing.

Apparently even this public fellating did not satisfy Chairman Bryant. Jonny soon issued a follow-up statement expressing “confidence” in Bryant’s “leadership,” and “respect” for the senator (barf bags available for the queasy).

Our only consolation is seeing Jonny do an amazing contortionist act—-his head is so far up the Senator’s backside, he’ll need emergency surgery to remove it.

During his 2nd week at the job the Governor had the opportunity to clean up a Department of Corrections ethics scandal that involved the current DOC Acting Commissioner. Pension documents had been falsified , allowing a fired Asst. Commissioner to stay on the payroll after being fired and pad her pension. Instead of taking command he allowed the DOC to investigate itself. No one has heard a word since then! To make things even worse, the Acting Commissioner is under consideration for the job as permanent Commissioner. Is Corzine this naive? Tell me it is just a difficult learning curve.

MEMORABLE CORZINE MOMENT: Would have to be when Jonny tapped Booby Menendez for his Senate seat. At the time, it seemed like a good idea. Jon-Boy did a McGreevey—and enthusiastically fellated another hyphenated voting bloc in the pursuit of ever-higher office.

But, hey, that was before the infamous rallies, Mexican flag-waving, Latino Star Spangled Banner, accusations of American imperialism, the Mexican government usurping veto power over U.S. immigration policy, and Reconquista, the Nation of Aztlan, and eventual annexation of the lower United States.

Now the polls show Menendez is supposedly seven points behind Kean. No question Menendez’ numbers are backlash from the prevailing anti-immigrant sentiment.

Somebody ought to get Menendez on record—if he’ll talk without truth serum—and his positions on:

(1) General amnesty, and the US Senate amnesty bill(2) Mexican Annexation of the lower states(3) Georgia’s anti-immigrant bill and what it might mean for New Jersey.(4) Immigrants use of phony documents to get government freebies, mortgages, and drivers licenses.(5) Legislating English as the official language—no more printing ballots, etc in foreign languages.(6) His border security proposals.(7) Use of tests to qualify as US citizens.

What I recall of the first 100 days is Corzine acting as if he has become confused over what he said during the campaign and what he was doing. Come to think of it that appears to be the theme of his second 100.

by now another 30 days have gone by….and its all the same. hes been ineffective almost invisible,,,and yet he manages to step all over his tongue when he does speak. I have nothing against hi,m. I just wonder why he doesnt use some of his business expertise in tackleing our huge deficet. LIke manageing, expenses and laying off duplication and unnecessary government patrongae. He’s doing what all of them, tax us into oblivion and already renegeing on campaign promises. There are really no surprizes. Only the name has changed.

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Bob Ingle, Senior Political Columnist for Gannett New Jersey newspapers, on politics in "The Soprano State".

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Bob IngleBob Ingle is Senior Political Columnist for Gannett New Jersey Newspapers and co-author of The New York Times' Best Seller, "The Soprano State: New Jersey's Culture of Corruption." Hear him Fridays at 5 p.m. on www.tommygshow.com radio. twitter.com/bobingle99 E-mail Bob

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"Chris Christie: The Inside Story of His Rise to Power," written by Bob Ingle and Michael Symons, offers the first inside portrait of New Jersey’s governor, who in two years as governor emerged as a national Republican Party figure famous for his blunt public statements. The book details Christie’s combative public persona and deep family roots, tracing his improbable political rise from a bruising stint in county government to his anti-corruption crusade as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. Chris Christie: The Inside Story of His Rise to Power goes behind the scenes to reveal his family life, his public life, and what the future might hold..

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"The Soprano State," written by Bob Ingle and Sandy McClure, details the you-couldn't-make-this-up true story of the corruption that has pervaded New Jersey politics, government, and business for the past thirty years. From Jimmy Hoffa purportedly being buried somewhere beneath the end zone in Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands, through allegations of a thoroughly corrupt medical and dental university, through Mafia influence at all levels, to a governor who suddenly declares himself a “gay American” and resigns, the Garden State might indeed be better named after the HBO mobsters.

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